Locking medium for decorative and other blocks



- L. SCHEPMOES. LOCKING MEDIUM FOR DECORATIVEAND OTHER BLOCKS.

APPUCATION FILED DEC. 12. [918' Patented Dec. 7, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET ATTORNEY.

L. SCHEPMOES.

LOCKING MEDIUM FOR DECORATIVE AND OTHER BLOCKS.

APPLICATION FILED 050.12. 1918.

1,361,501 1 Patented Dec. 7, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

' {:7 efpNgVENTOR:

' ATTORNEY LINDSLEY SCHEPMOES, 0F HASBROUCK 'HEIGHTS, NEW JERSEY.

LOCKING MEDIUM FOR DECORATIVE AND OTHER BLOCKS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. '7, 1920.

Application filedDecember 12, 1918. Serial No. 266,410.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LINDSLEY SonnrMons, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hasbrouck Heights, in the county of Ber gen and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement inLocking Mediums for Decorative and other Blocks, of which the following'is a specification.

This invention relates to decorative and other blocks which may be used for various purposes such as tiling, inlays, marqnetry,

wall coverings, stencils, types, pr nting plates, toys, pasting stamps, decalcomania and other useful, decorative or amusement purposes. Particularly, the invention has reference to a locking unit, block, member or medium capable of being used with media of the nature mentioned for positively locking and interlocking with the same, andv also capable of being used for thepurposes stated in the foregoing. I

In order that'my invention may be clearly understood, I have provided drawings wherein: I

Figure 1 is a plan view' of one of my looking blocks or units;

Fig. 2 is a section of Fig. 1 substantlally on the line 2-2;

Fig. 3 is a plan view showing a design made up of blocks or members in the form of isosceles polygons, locked together by a plurality of the locking units or media forming an essential part of my present invention' f:

Fig. 4 is a plan view showing a plurality of the locking media or units interlocked in accordance with my invention; and s Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3; but, showing a different form of the looking or interlocking media or units, and also a different form of the blocks interlocked and held together by the locking units.

Primarily, it should be understood that my present invention, from one aspect, consists of a looking or interlocking block, unit, member or medium adapted to be used interchangeably with each other, or with filling blocks, member, units or media having cooperative features of construction adapting them to be used interchangeably with each other and with the locking units. This will be understood from the detail description which follows, and particularly with refer-g 5 ence to Figs. 1 to 4.

suitable thickness and area, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and may be made of any material found suitable for the particular purpose to which the unit is to be adapted, as set forth in the foregoing. The locking unit 1 is so formed as to provide parallel opposite sides 2 terminating at one end in converging shorter sides 8, forming, with two still shorter sides 4, acute angles, the shorter sides of which constitute the base of a substantially spear-shaped terminal 5 completed by sides 6 producing a right-an le, 1

the vertex of which is indicated at 7 he sides 6 join the sides 1 forming therewith acute angles. Thus the substantially spearshaped terminal 5 is joined to the body 1 of the unit by a narrow neck 8. At its opposite end, the body of the unit is provided with a recess or opening bounded by two sides 9' constituting a right-angle, the vertex 10 of wlnch 1s in the longitudinal axis of the unit,

, in which axis the vertex 7 is also located.

The two sides 9 form acute angles 11 with short sides 12 which, in turn, form acute angles 13 with longer sides" 14, which, in

turn, form acute angles 15 with the parallel sides 2, obtuse angles 16 bein formed by the latter and the converging sides 3. Thus, the large end of the block has a substantially spear-head shaped opening corresponding to the spear-head terminal 5, and a neck 17 corresponding to the neck 8, and a flared opening corresponding to the shape of the body of the unit below the neck 8. Stating the features of the unit otherwise, it will be seen that the opposite sides 2 are parallel, the sides 6, 3, 9 and 14 on the same side of the unit are parallel, and sides 1 and 12 on the same side of the unit are parallel.

The form of the unit shown is given for its locking and interlocking value, as well as to provide a symmetrical, interchangeable unit adapted to interlock with others of its kind, as well as with filling units 19, l1aving features of construction adapting them to cooperate with, and interlock with, the said locking units at either or both ends. It

will be understood, however, that the exact shape and dimensions of the various members, such as the terminal tongue 5 and the terminal tongues 18, as well as the inner spear-shaped opening formed by the sides 9 and 12, may be varied in form, shape or size, provided the general conformation of the said features of construction are maintained. An example of such variation is shown in 5, wherein the tongue or terminal 5 of the locking unit is shown as being less prominent, or not quite so extensive, in the direction of the length of the unit, this being also true of the inner opening bounded by the walls 9, 12 at the opposite end of the unit. To cooperate with locking and inter locking units of this different form of my invention, I have shown variations inthe' form of the filling blocks or units 20 which latter are shown to be longer and narrower than thefilling blocks 19, of Fig. 3, or to be in thegeneralv form of equilateral triangles, in contr adistinction to the general form of rightrangle-triangles, such as shown in Fig. 3. As shown in both Figs. 3 and 5, some of the filling blocks are provided with locking tongues 21- at-opposite ends of openings or grooves 22 centrally disposed on oneside thereof, while others are provided with locking tongues 23 centrally disposed and bounded by the walls of end openings or grooves 24.

The general forms of locking units and cooperating filling units, examples ofwhich,

are shownin the drawings, may be varied toaconsiderable extent without in any way departing from the general nature and spirit ofmy invention, the important characteristicsof which are illust'ratedin Figs. 1, 3 an .4.

Asshownin Figs. 3, 4L and 5, designs of various character can be formed by variously disposing the interlockin filling and locking units; but, particularly referring to Fig. 3, it willbe seen that the units can be disposedso as to produce a design in which a great many filling units 19 are: employed, and held together by only four locking units. 1, the latter constituting an absolute and positive lock for all the filling units and each other. The extent to which the designs and uses of-my locking unit can be varied is illustrated in'Fig. 5, wherein many more filling units 19 are employed, with only six locking units 1, which constitute an abso; lute and positive lock for the filling units and for each other.

As further illustrating the great variation in design and use of my. invention, reference is made to Fig. 4, wherein the locking unitsare shown as interlocked with each other only and as constituting a positive and absolute lock for each other. F rom this figure, itwill be seen that the. locking units,

can be variously extended both lengthwise and laterally, as may be desired, accordingto the pattern, form or use to which the unit is adapted; that is to say, the two adjacent interlocked units 1 may be entended,lat,- yf Pattern esign, p.u r ose$:,..a id the endwise interlocked; may be, exnded' h in her. dire tion, to, ny desired'degree, for the purpose of forming borders, edgings or straight lines, in a gen;

eral design make-up. And it will be understood that both the designs of Figs. 3 and .5 can be extended inall directions. by the addition of other filling units and locking units, whereby to produce any desired extent or area of designs or covering surface, according to the use to which the units or blocks are put.

From the foregoing description, it will be understood that my interlocking and filling 5 blocks may be employed for various purposes, as set forth, and that, with surface ornamentations of predetermined character, indefinite, ornamental designs and beautiful effects can be produced adapted for tiling, flooring, wall paper, wall-linings or coverings, printing types, stereoty )es,'lithog raphing plates, stencils, and, in act, for innumerable purposes; but, the important characteristic'of my invention is that I have produced a novel'form of locking unit which is a positive lock for itself when a plurality are combined, as well as for itself and each of the filling blocks when combined, regardless of number.

n ad o ma ingthe sid f. the lockin j in ch o her'to o m. ng the sid s y e i i edby r ed, nes giving m r l f symmetry n s a uptri ss t the tline Qf h a res Q e unit.

Having thus described my invention, what I a m an des re to cu eby Lett rs. P n is;

1. As an article of manufacture, a locking i rt les, blocks, ec at de ice having a spear shapedlocking tongue atone nd and an. op -end o k ng l 0r ec ss at'the other end, which slot or recess is in orm. he s me; as. h Said to gu A an ar iclen m nu ct r a ocking unit for tiles, blocks, or decorative dev ces ving a compara iv y lo g b dy p r ien, nd f wh ch erm na s n a pear shaped locking tongue, and the other end of hic iau q ded ith a ss he orm h fihissubsta ially th Same as h of the said tongue.

3. As an article of manufacture, a locking unit for, tiles, blocks, or decorative devices oblong in form and having its parallel longer 115 des, at. one nd. j in y e g ng des which terminate in an angularlocking tongue, andhaving its opposite end provided with a recess inform substantially the same as that of said tongue.

4, As an article of manufacture, a locking unitfor tiles, blocks, or decorative devices] blqng n orm and. ng, s para l l longer des: at on v ndioimd y onve g ng sid s which terminate in a spear shaped; locking ng nd av g opp sit end provided with a reeess inform substantially the same unit for tiles, blocks, or decorative devices,

having at one end a substantially spear shaped terminal centrally disposed between divergent sides of the unit, and at its other end an opening the walls of which at one end produce a substantially spear shaped figure and at the other end a flared terminal.

6. As an article of manufacture, a locking unit for tiles, blocks, or decorative devices, comprising an elongated body portion having at one end a substantially spear shaped terminal centrally disposed between divergent sides of the unit, and having its other end formed into a similarly shape'l opening, the vertex of the terminal angle of which is in the longitudinal axis of the block.

7. As an article of manufacture, a lo king unit for tiles, blocks, or decorative devices, comprising a body portion narrowed at one end and extended into a substantially spear shaped tongue, the vertex of which is ii: the longitudinal axis of the block, and having at its other end an opening in form similar to the said narrowed end and extended tongue, the vertex of the angle of which is in the longitudinal axis of the block,

8. A locking unit comprising a body portion, one end of which is formed into a tongue having a plurality of sides forming at least three angles, the vertex of one of which is in the longitudinal axis of the unit, and having its other end provided with a recess bounded by a plurality of sides forming angles corresponding in number to and arranged like those of the tongue.

LINDSLEY SGHEPMOES. 

